Digital Radio Tagging Using an RF Tuner Accessory

• US 20100150276A1
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Yew, Jason J., Walsh, Robert J., Haughay, Allen P. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,983,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/340
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/006 using switches for selecting the desired band H04B1/0057 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/64 for providing detail information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

An accessory having an RF tuner for digital radio, such as HD radio, can be in communication with a media player such as a portable media device (“PMD”). The user can be given the ability to command the accessory to provide raw digital data, the ability to scan only for stations having digital audio content (or for all available stations), the ability to provide station lists of stations having digital audio content (or all available stations), and the ability to request and store metadata beyond that for stations actually being listened to provide enhanced search capabilities. Enhanced metadata and searching can provide the listener the ability to refine station choices without having to listen at length to any particular station, and further can facilitate tagging broadcast tracks for subsequent access and/or purchase.

Claims

1. A method for use in an accessory having a radio receiver, the method comprising:

in response to a command specifying a given digital radio program service, tuning to a frequency corresponding to the given digital radio program service;

extracting digital information for the given digital radio program service;

separating the digital information into audio information and other information;

providing the audio information at a first interface of the accessory; and

providing the other information in raw digital form at a second interface of the accessory.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the accessory converts the audio information to an analog audio format before providing the audio information to the first interface; and

the first interface is an analog audio out interface of the accessory that is distinct from the second interface.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the audio out interface is complementary with and communicably coupled to an analog audio interface on a media player.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein:

the accessory has a media player interface configured for communicable coupling to a complementary accessory interface on a media player;

the accessory'"'"'s audio out interface is associated with the accessory'"'"'s media player interface;

the accessory'"'"'s audio out interface is complementary with and communicably coupled to an analog audio portion of the media player'"'"'s accessory interface; and

the method further comprises,

receiving an incoming analog audio signal at a third interface of the accessory, and

directing the analog audio signal to a fourth interface of the accessory.

2-5. -5. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

10. A method for use in an accessory having a radio receiver, the method comprising:

receiving a raw-mode command from a media player communicably coupled to the accessory, the raw-mode command specifying that the accessory should provide raw data to the media player; and

in response to receiving the raw-mode command;

assembling a data record from received digital radio data; and

sending the assembled data record to the media player using a data transmission command.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the method includes, in response to receiving a parsed-mode command:

assembling data from received digital radio data;

parsing the data;

assembling a data record from parsed digital radio data; and

sending the assembled data record to the media player using a data transmission command.

11. (canceled)

13. A method for use in an accessory having a radio receiver, the method comprising:

in response to a command at an input interface to tune to a given frequency, tuning to the given frequency;

determining the number of digital radio program services at the given frequency; and

providing at an output interface information representative of the number of digital radio program services at the given frequency.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein:

the command at the input interface is provided by a media player; and

the media player, upon receiving the information representative of the number of digital radio program services at the given frequency, commands the accessory to provide information regarding each of the digital radio program services.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the media player, upon receiving information regarding a given digital radio program service, displays that information without waiting until it has information about all the digital radio program services at the given frequency.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the media player, upon receiving information regarding a given digital radio program service, displays that information only after it has information about all the digital radio program services at the given frequency.

14. (canceled)

18. A method for use by a media player communicating with an accessory having a radio receiver, the method comprising:

requesting information from the accessory regarding digital radio program services at one or more station frequencies;

receiving metadata from the accessory regarding a plurality of digital radio program services; and

storing the metadata for the plurality of digital radio program services independently of receiving audio associated with any particular digital radio program service.

19. A method for use in an accessory having a radio receiver, the method comprising:

tuning to a frequency at which one or more digital radio program services are available;

providing information about the one or more digital radio program services to a media player interface;

receiving a selection from the media player interface, the selection selecting one of the one or more digital radio program services; and

delivering audio content from the selected digital radio program service to the media player.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the information about the one or more digital radio program services is provided in raw form.

20. (canceled)

22-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A method for use in an accessory having a radio receiver, the method comprising:

receiving a mode command specifying that the accessory should operate in either a first mode in which only radio stations providing digital audio content are of interest or a second mode in which all radio stations are of interest;

receiving a command to search for a receivable radio signal;

in the event that the mode command specified that the accessory should operate in the first mode, searching only for a radio signal that includes digital audio content; and

in the event that the mode command specified that the accessory should operate in the second mode, searching for any receivable radio signal.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the mode command is incorporated into the command to search.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the mode command is sent as a separate command before the command to search is sent.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein there is a mode where the accessory returns analog stations having RDS information.

28-29. -29. (canceled)

31. A method for use in an accessory having a radio receiver, the method comprising:

receiving one or more commands to search for all digital radio stations in a given frequency band; and

for each digital radio station found, providing station identifying information concerning the found digital radio station at an interface of the accessory.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the one or more commands include a plurality of separate commands to search for the next digital radio station in a scan sequence.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the one or more commands include a single command to search for all the digital radio stations in a scan sequence.

34. The method of claim 31, and further comprising, after station identifying information has been provided for all found digital radio stations:

sequentially tuning to the found stations; and

for each found station, providing additional information representing program services available for that found station.

35. The method of claim 31, and further comprising, after station identifying information has been provided for each found digital radio station:

providing additional information representing program services available for that found station before searching for the next digital radio station.

36. The method of claim 31, and further comprising:

receiving one or more commands to search for all radio stations in the given frequency band; and

for each radio station found, providing station identifying information concerning the found radio station at the interface of the accessory.

37-54. -54. (canceled)